ACCIES IN BENEFIT MATCH AT CARLOW
Accies in Benefit match at Carlow
MEMBERS of County Carlow RFC rolled out the red carpet for Omagh Academicals players, officials and travelling guests on Saturday for a benefit weekend in aid of the Omagh Fund.
With cheques being presented to the Omagh president, Jack Reid, for the Omagh Fund, the Omagh President's XV winning the charity game, Carlow celebrating their 125th anniversary in style, and the visitors being treated to a weekend in Carlow it proved successful for everyone.
The only down point on an otherwise tremendous day was a leg break sustained by Omagh Accies' influential centre, Stephen Beattie. He was taken to hospital at Tallaght and was back in his Tyrone home this week, after an operation on the lower right leg.
A cheque was presented to Mr. Reid by Carlow Lawn Tennis Club, and another cheque will be forwarded later from the County Carlow RFC, both to go to the Omagh Fund.
Carlow and Omagh struck up a friendship in rugby circles two years ago when they met as junior clubs in the All Ireland League round-robin play-offs as respective winners of their branches qualifying leagues.
Carlow won the game at home, and went on to win the play-offs, while Omagh finished in the runners up spot and both went into the AIL together.
The Leinster club went on to win the division four title in their first season, and during the season just finished had a reasonably successful debut appearance in division three.
As part of their 125th anniversary celebrations, Carlow wished to build on the friendship made with Omagh and invited them to produce a team made up of members of the Tyrone club, with guests from other junior and senior clubs in the area.
The Omagh players were joined by a number of guests from Clogher Valley, Dungannon, Enniskillen and City of Derry to form an Omagh North West Select President's XV.
Upon arrival in Carlow, after an early morning start from Omagh, the Accies party were entertained in the club and welcomed by officials.
Later, at a pre-match reception the Omagh committee members were entertained and Carlow president, Roy Elmes, extended the official welcome.
He said he felt it was special for Omagh to be part of the 125th anniversary game as both clubs achieved senior status together. He said it was also an ideal opportunity to use the occasion to make a worthwhile contribution to the Omagh Fund.
Mr. Elmes acknowledged the tremendous support the club had received through sponsorship and donations, and also the special efforts made by the club members involved in organising the day's events.
He said that while the Carlow members were conscious of the human suffering as a result of the Omagh bomb, the day was still one of celebrating an anniversary, the proceeds of which would go to the Omagh Fund.
Eamon O'Byrne, representing Carlow Lawn Tennis Club, presented a cheque to the president to go to the Fund, and it was handed over to the Omagh president, Jack Reid.
Mr. Reid thanked the Carlow president and the officials for their invitation to be part of the celebration.
"We in Omagh know only too well the amount of support there has been for the Omagh Fund from the rugby fraternity. We also thank Carlow tennis club for their contribution," he said.
Following the match, there was another reception for officials and players, and Mr. Reid presented a crystal rugby ball to the Carlow president, who also presented a ball to the Omagh club.
The president of the Ulster Branch IRFU, John Callaghan, having received a Carlow club plaque, presented an Ulster Branch plaque to Mr. Elmes
'Touched'
Mr. Callaghan said the Omagh atrocity had touched everyone across Ireland, and he was aware of the efforts being made throughout the union in raising funds for the disaster fund.
He also referred to the success of the Ulster senior rugby team in winning the European Cup and said it had been an achievement which had not only boosted the sport in Ulster, but the whole island.
The Carlow captain, Larry Hannon, thanked Omagh for fielding such a strong side and he wished the injured Omagh player a speedy recovery. He presented a club tie to Omagh captain, Alan McCaffrey.
Mr. McCaffrey, making his debut speech since being elected club captain at Omagh, thanked Carlow for entertaining them and said it was great to see a team from the North West of Ulster playing so well.
"Too often it is the teams in the East of the province who are regarded as being the best, but today we showed that there are quality players in the North West," he added.
Later in the clubhouse, music was provided by the Guinness Jazz band and the Omagh party left the Dolmen Hotel on Sunday morning to make the long trek home.
Match report
CO. CARLOW 27
OMAGH PRESIDENT'S...29
With Carlow leading 24-0 at the interval, it looked as though the team representing Omagh Accies were heading for a heavy defeat.
However, the green and white hoops managed to turn the game around and a penalty in injury time gave them a well deserved victory.
The first half was fast and furious with Carlow setting up second phase possession quickly for their scrumhalf, Leonard Peavoy, to release an eager looking backline.
The Omagh defence remained firm with David Jack making a vital tackle on his own '22' to deny Stuart Collier in for what looked a certain try.
And Stephen Beattie and Bob Coyle had to be at their best with the tackles as Carlow threatened to overrun the disjointed Omagh side, still getting used to each other, given this was the first time the mixed select side had been together.
Omagh wing-forward, Johnny Keyes, was once again to the fore in winning possession up front for the visitors, making his presence felt and spoiling Carlow's game.
Kevin Murnaghan was almost away from Omagh, but an outstretched hand caught his shirt just as he was about to take off having turned possession from Matthew Waterhouse.
Both sides won penalties in kickable positions, but in true benefit match tradition, the ball was run at every opportunity.
After the 20-minute mark, Carlow scored 19 points in a seven minute spell.
The opening score came in the 22nd minute when Barry Gordon ran in under the posts, Robert Byrne converting. And the lead was doubled to 14 points two minutes later, when Carlow's backs caned through the Omagh defence and Collier touched down. Byrne again converted.
In the 27th minute, Carlow opened the ball up from their own '22' and after a great flowing movement, Paddy Purcell turned the pace to high speed on the left wing and scored a try, Byrne this time missing the conversion.
Omagh responded well and livewire Clogher Valley scrumhalf, Jamie Bates, who had an outstanding game in the number nine shirt, made a great break before releasing the ball to Allan Duncan, who also had an excellent game. Duncan made ground before releasing Beattie away, but he was tackled 10 yards out.
However, in the tackle Beattie picked up a leg injury and there were anxious onlookers as the doctor was called and Beattie was then stretched off with a suspected broken right leg. The news that came back later was bad, in that Beattie had indeed broken his leg and required an operation on Sunday morning to correct the damage.
Ryan Scott, the ever improving Academy schoolboy, replaced the unfortunate Beattie.
Carlow added another try to their tally in injury time, Purcell going in for his second of the match, with Byrne's conversion hitting an upright to leave the score 24-0.
The Accies select side made several changes at the interval, ensuring that all the players who travelled got a slice of the action. Liam McGettigan (ex-City of Derry) came on for Murnaghan and M. Black (City of Derry) replaced Coyle, and after 10 minutes James Kane replaced Clogher Valley's Willie Irvine at tight-head prop, later moving to hooker after A. McKeown (Cookstown) picked up an injury.
And it was McGettigan who changed the swing of fortunes for the Accies select side.
He stormed through the Carlow cover like a man possessed, setting up great opportunities on which the Omagh team could build. Enniskillen's R. Campbell went in for the first try, and then young Scott barged his way over after a flowing backline movement. Jack added both conversions and Omagh were now in sight of the total at 24-14.
The turning point in the match came when Jack then made a vital tackle on Collier, which denied the Carlow centre a try which would probably have put them out of sight.
In the 25th minute, a great surge by the visiting forwards, saw them encamped on the line. Bates made a break from one scrum, and fed the backline on the blind, but Dilworth was halted. From another scrum, Jack fought to gain possession and then dived over from close range to score. He added the conversion and Omagh were just three points adrift.
With eight minutes to go a bit of inspirational play from McGettigan saw Omagh break from their own '22' and the score was registered. Jack's conversion hit the post and the Accies led 24-26.
Carlow, obviously rocked by the second half bombardment by the visitors, tried to find a way through, but the tackles were always there.
Having ran two kickable penalties, Carlow, much to the disappointment of the crowd, opted to kick another awarded in the 34th minute and Byrne slotted it over to put them in front by a point at 27-26.
With the game just going into injury time, Duncan made a surge and was tackled. However, Carlow were penalised and although the Accies ran the first penalty, only to be awarded another, the instructions from everyone to Jack were quite clear 'kick it'.
Jack obliged and although another seven minutes were played, Omagh held out to deny Carlow a victory on their anniversary day.
Omagh President's Select XV: D. Jack; K. Murnaghan, S. Beattie, B. Coyle, J. Dilworth; A. Duncan, J. Bates (Clogher Valley); A. McCaffrey (capt), A. McKeown (Queen's/Cookstown), W. Irvine (Clogher Valley), A. Anderson, R. Campbell (Enniskillen), A. Hughes (Dungannon), Johnny Keyes, A. Anderson. Subs: R. Scott (Omagh Academy); M. Black (City of Derry), R. Campbell (Enniskillen), A. Hughes (Dungannon). J. Kane (Omagh) and L. McGettigan (ex-City of Derry).
MEMBERS of County Carlow RFC rolled out the red carpet for Omagh Academicals players, officials and travelling guests on Saturday for a benefit weekend in aid of the Omagh Fund.
With cheques being presented to the Omagh president, Jack Reid, for the Omagh Fund, the Omagh President's XV winning the charity game, Carlow celebrating their 125th anniversary in style, and the visitors being treated to a weekend in Carlow it proved successful for everyone.
The only down point on an otherwise tremendous day was a leg break sustained by Omagh Accies' influential centre, Stephen Beattie. He was taken to hospital at Tallaght and was back in his Tyrone home this week, after an operation on the lower right leg.
A cheque was presented to Mr. Reid by Carlow Lawn Tennis Club, and another cheque will be forwarded later from the County Carlow RFC, both to go to the Omagh Fund.
Carlow and Omagh struck up a friendship in rugby circles two years ago when they met as junior clubs in the All Ireland League round-robin play-offs as respective winners of their branches qualifying leagues.
Carlow won the game at home, and went on to win the play-offs, while Omagh finished in the runners up spot and both went into the AIL together.
The Leinster club went on to win the division four title in their first season, and during the season just finished had a reasonably successful debut appearance in division three.
As part of their 125th anniversary celebrations, Carlow wished to build on the friendship made with Omagh and invited them to produce a team made up of members of the Tyrone club, with guests from other junior and senior clubs in the area.
The Omagh players were joined by a number of guests from Clogher Valley, Dungannon, Enniskillen and City of Derry to form an Omagh North West Select President's XV.
Upon arrival in Carlow, after an early morning start from Omagh, the Accies party were entertained in the club and welcomed by officials.
Later, at a pre-match reception the Omagh committee members were entertained and Carlow president, Roy Elmes, extended the official welcome.
He said he felt it was special for Omagh to be part of the 125th anniversary game as both clubs achieved senior status together. He said it was also an ideal opportunity to use the occasion to make a worthwhile contribution to the Omagh Fund.
Mr. Elmes acknowledged the tremendous support the club had received through sponsorship and donations, and also the special efforts made by the club members involved in organising the day's events.
He said that while the Carlow members were conscious of the human suffering as a result of the Omagh bomb, the day was still one of celebrating an anniversary, the proceeds of which would go to the Omagh Fund.
Eamon O'Byrne, representing Carlow Lawn Tennis Club, presented a cheque to the president to go to the Fund, and it was handed over to the Omagh president, Jack Reid.
Mr. Reid thanked the Carlow president and the officials for their invitation to be part of the celebration.
"We in Omagh know only too well the amount of support there has been for the Omagh Fund from the rugby fraternity. We also thank Carlow tennis club for their contribution," he said.
Following the match, there was another reception for officials and players, and Mr. Reid presented a crystal rugby ball to the Carlow president, who also presented a ball to the Omagh club.
The president of the Ulster Branch IRFU, John Callaghan, having received a Carlow club plaque, presented an Ulster Branch plaque to Mr. Elmes
'Touched'
Mr. Callaghan said the Omagh atrocity had touched everyone across Ireland, and he was aware of the efforts being made throughout the union in raising funds for the disaster fund.
He also referred to the success of the Ulster senior rugby team in winning the European Cup and said it had been an achievement which had not only boosted the sport in Ulster, but the whole island.
The Carlow captain, Larry Hannon, thanked Omagh for fielding such a strong side and he wished the injured Omagh player a speedy recovery. He presented a club tie to Omagh captain, Alan McCaffrey.
Mr. McCaffrey, making his debut speech since being elected club captain at Omagh, thanked Carlow for entertaining them and said it was great to see a team from the North West of Ulster playing so well.
"Too often it is the teams in the East of the province who are regarded as being the best, but today we showed that there are quality players in the North West," he added.
Later in the clubhouse, music was provided by the Guinness Jazz band and the Omagh party left the Dolmen Hotel on Sunday morning to make the long trek home.
Match report
CO. CARLOW 27
OMAGH PRESIDENT'S...29
With Carlow leading 24-0 at the interval, it looked as though the team representing Omagh Accies were heading for a heavy defeat.
However, the green and white hoops managed to turn the game around and a penalty in injury time gave them a well deserved victory.
The first half was fast and furious with Carlow setting up second phase possession quickly for their scrumhalf, Leonard Peavoy, to release an eager looking backline.
The Omagh defence remained firm with David Jack making a vital tackle on his own '22' to deny Stuart Collier in for what looked a certain try.
And Stephen Beattie and Bob Coyle had to be at their best with the tackles as Carlow threatened to overrun the disjointed Omagh side, still getting used to each other, given this was the first time the mixed select side had been together.
Omagh wing-forward, Johnny Keyes, was once again to the fore in winning possession up front for the visitors, making his presence felt and spoiling Carlow's game.
Kevin Murnaghan was almost away from Omagh, but an outstretched hand caught his shirt just as he was about to take off having turned possession from Matthew Waterhouse.
Both sides won penalties in kickable positions, but in true benefit match tradition, the ball was run at every opportunity.
After the 20-minute mark, Carlow scored 19 points in a seven minute spell.
The opening score came in the 22nd minute when Barry Gordon ran in under the posts, Robert Byrne converting. And the lead was doubled to 14 points two minutes later, when Carlow's backs caned through the Omagh defence and Collier touched down. Byrne again converted.
In the 27th minute, Carlow opened the ball up from their own '22' and after a great flowing movement, Paddy Purcell turned the pace to high speed on the left wing and scored a try, Byrne this time missing the conversion.
Omagh responded well and livewire Clogher Valley scrumhalf, Jamie Bates, who had an outstanding game in the number nine shirt, made a great break before releasing the ball to Allan Duncan, who also had an excellent game. Duncan made ground before releasing Beattie away, but he was tackled 10 yards out.
However, in the tackle Beattie picked up a leg injury and there were anxious onlookers as the doctor was called and Beattie was then stretched off with a suspected broken right leg. The news that came back later was bad, in that Beattie had indeed broken his leg and required an operation on Sunday morning to correct the damage.
Ryan Scott, the ever improving Academy schoolboy, replaced the unfortunate Beattie.
Carlow added another try to their tally in injury time, Purcell going in for his second of the match, with Byrne's conversion hitting an upright to leave the score 24-0.
The Accies select side made several changes at the interval, ensuring that all the players who travelled got a slice of the action. Liam McGettigan (ex-City of Derry) came on for Murnaghan and M. Black (City of Derry) replaced Coyle, and after 10 minutes James Kane replaced Clogher Valley's Willie Irvine at tight-head prop, later moving to hooker after A. McKeown (Cookstown) picked up an injury.
And it was McGettigan who changed the swing of fortunes for the Accies select side.
He stormed through the Carlow cover like a man possessed, setting up great opportunities on which the Omagh team could build. Enniskillen's R. Campbell went in for the first try, and then young Scott barged his way over after a flowing backline movement. Jack added both conversions and Omagh were now in sight of the total at 24-14.
The turning point in the match came when Jack then made a vital tackle on Collier, which denied the Carlow centre a try which would probably have put them out of sight.
In the 25th minute, a great surge by the visiting forwards, saw them encamped on the line. Bates made a break from one scrum, and fed the backline on the blind, but Dilworth was halted. From another scrum, Jack fought to gain possession and then dived over from close range to score. He added the conversion and Omagh were just three points adrift.
With eight minutes to go a bit of inspirational play from McGettigan saw Omagh break from their own '22' and the score was registered. Jack's conversion hit the post and the Accies led 24-26.
Carlow, obviously rocked by the second half bombardment by the visitors, tried to find a way through, but the tackles were always there.
Having ran two kickable penalties, Carlow, much to the disappointment of the crowd, opted to kick another awarded in the 34th minute and Byrne slotted it over to put them in front by a point at 27-26.
With the game just going into injury time, Duncan made a surge and was tackled. However, Carlow were penalised and although the Accies ran the first penalty, only to be awarded another, the instructions from everyone to Jack were quite clear 'kick it'.
Jack obliged and although another seven minutes were played, Omagh held out to deny Carlow a victory on their anniversary day.
Omagh President's Select XV: D. Jack; K. Murnaghan, S. Beattie, B. Coyle, J. Dilworth; A. Duncan, J. Bates (Clogher Valley); A. McCaffrey (capt), A. McKeown (Queen's/Cookstown), W. Irvine (Clogher Valley), A. Anderson, R. Campbell (Enniskillen), A. Hughes (Dungannon), Johnny Keyes, A. Anderson. Subs: R. Scott (Omagh Academy); M. Black (City of Derry), R. Campbell (Enniskillen), A. Hughes (Dungannon). J. Kane (Omagh) and L. McGettigan (ex-City of Derry).
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1352
Published Date: 20-May-99
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.